Down to the wire!

April 19, 2008|By TONI SALYER, Daily American Correspondent

As April 22 is fast approaching, all eyes are on seven candidates vying for Rep. Bob Bastian’s office. Just as the candidates are competing, so to are the students of Allegany College of Maryland fighting to maintain a high grade point average. Achieving high grades are important in receiving scholarships and grants.

Now that mid-terms and spring break are behind the students, studying for finals is the ultimate challenge for us. As a political science instructor at the Somerset ACM campus, Attorney Michael Kuhn has assigned a candidate to each of his students to learn about and campaign in class why people should vote for their candidate.

But as life would have it, there is a twist! Attorney Kuhn has put a restriction on certain resources available to obtain facts, forcing students to go the extra mile in order to locate information.

With all the available technology today, the media, newspapers, Internet and Web sites, students can acquire valuable information through numerous resources. Each candidate, Joe Betta, Mike Brendle, John Ferko, Carl Walker Metzgar, Stephen Smerbeck, Ed Sroka, and Ken Warnick have graciously given interviews to the students. They have taken time from their campaigning to take part in this assignment and Ed Sroka and Ken Warnick have met with the class. Each hopeful has expressed a plan for improved economic growth along with an improved educational system and lower taxes.

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In teaching the students to seek out information by utilizing the various resources available, they are also learning about the runners. Knowing the candidates in person gives the student a unique opportunity to better understand the person behind the politics.

This is very valuable to a young voter who may have doubts as to whom they will cast their vote. Meeting the individual contenders and being able to ask questions about young voter’s concerns, helps them to be able to read between the lines and vote their conscience. This is an extremely important lesson to the ACM students, and one they will continue to utilize in life choices.

With the home stretch approaching, Attorney Kuhn has done a tremendous deed in educating his students on the politics of our state and local government. Attorney Kuhn states that, “Although he is not allowed to be political, he does attempt to instill the political culture to his students.”

Congratulations to each of the respected candidates for going the distance by partaking in this worthwhile assignment. While we are all involved in the history of this election year, instructing his students in this unique manner has given them an edge on the importance of their vote and has shown them the aspects of the election system.

Students are taught that our government is based on the voice of the people. By voting, they send a shout to our legislature and participate in life’s history instead of just watching.